Page 107 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2025

NotPetya disguised itself as a ransomware attack, leaving a ransom note on the screens of infected
devices, although decryption was impossible. This approach intends to distract incident responders.

Attacks like NotPetya highlight the immense financial and operational toll that wiper malware could
impose nearly a decade ago, and the risk to organizations has only grown in the intervening years, with
known examples like Whispergate (2022) and Apostle (2012-2025).

Wiper attacks aim to irreversibly erase data, disable critical infrastructure and cause chaos, rather than
to demand a ransom or steal information. This makes them a preferred tool for adversaries such as
hacktivists and nation-state actors engaged in cyberwarfare, ideological conflicts or political retaliation.
Unlike financially motivated cybercriminals, these attackers prioritize causing disruption, damaging
reputations or advancing strategic national interests.

Organizations most vulnerable to wiper malware attacks include government agencies, defense
contractors, critical infrastructure operators and enterprises in politically sensitive regions. Those at the
highest risk are entities that are caught in geopolitical conflicts or that store and process sensitive data
that adversaries want to eliminate rather than monetize.

Real-World Impacts of Wiper Malware

A well-known example of wiper malware wreaking havoc is the 2014 Shamoon attack on Sony Pictures.
This attack, allegedly orchestrated by North Korea, targeted Sony in retaliation for its satirical movie The
Interview. The Shamoon virus was designed to erase data on infected machines, making recovery nearly
impossible. Beyond the direct data loss, the attack led to the leak of Sony’s sensitive internal
communications, unreleased films and employee data. Estimates suggest Sony incurred losses of at
least $15 million from this cyberattack, not to mention the long-term reputational damage.

More recently, wiper malware has become a key component of cyberwarfare. In international conflicts,
state-sponsored attackers use destructive malware to disrupt critical services, cripple financial institutions
and weaken national infrastructures. Such attacks can have far-reaching consequences, including
economic destabilization and public safety risks.

8 Best Practices for Facing Wiper Malware Attacks with Confidence

Defending from wiper malware attacks requires a robust cybersecurity strategy similar to protecting
against other sophisticated threats. The core principles remain the same: preventing initial intrusion,
ensuring rapid response to minimize the impact of successful breaches, and speedy recovery to mitigate
operational disruption. Here are the most effective practices:

• User awareness and training — Educate employees on how to recognize phishing attempts,
social engineering tactics and other techniques attackers exploit to enter the network in order to
deploy wiper malware.
• Regular software updates and patch management — Unpatched vulnerabilities are a common
entry point for malware. Ensure all systems, applications and network devices are promptly

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2025 Edition 107
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